Gellert gritted his teeth. He glanced back into the apartment quickly, seeing Hermione was once again engrossed with the documentary, he quietly closed the door behind him.

"What do you want? Didn't I tell you I didn't want to see any of you again?"

Evan raised his brow with a smirk.

"That doesn't mean we don't want to see you again. After all, you left many unburied grudges in your wake. Besides, isn't that the girl? The same girl from five years ago? I didn't know you were into that kind of thing. I didn't think you had those kinds of sadistic tendencies." Gellert didn't think he hated Evan's smile more than he had at that moment.

"Leave her out of this," Gellert growled.

"She's been involved since the beginning, don't you remember? I'm not sure if you even really like her, or if you're just with her as a pity bodyguard. We all know she's the reason you left. It's an open secret at this point."

Gellert gritted his teeth. He'd been naive in thinking that faking his death would mean they would leave him alone.

"Well, consider this a warning from a good friend. She's going to find out eventually. Either you tell her the truth, or they will find you, and she'll figure it out anyway. I hope you're ready for the consequences."

Evan waved as he walked away. Gellert could only stare after him, wondering himself if everything would work out in the end – if he should have just stayed away in the first place.

Gellert stepped back into the apartment, determined to confess to Hermione and deal with whatever her reaction was.

But Hermione's bright smile as she turned her focus from the documentary to him joining her on the couch again and the way she immediately snuggled up to him caught the words in his throat.

Tomorrow. He'd tell her tomorrow.

...oOo...

Gellert struggled against the Lestrange brothers' hold, their fingers digging painfully into his arms, as Hermione whimpered, struggling away from Walden's grasp. She wriggled and her feet kicked out uselessly at his reinforced boots. Gellert could only be slightly grateful Walden hadn't started kicking as he usually enjoyed doing.

"Did Gellert not tell you?" Walden cooed. "He was there that day. He stood there and watched after planning the entire operation, how does that make you feel? Your precious boyfriend was the one who planned the entire operation. It's his fault your parents are no longer around."

Gellert watched as Hermione froze. Her eyes darted towards him, and Gellert couldn't help but look away, his struggles stilling.

"Look at him. Look at the guilt written on his face. You've lived with him for years, yet he told you nothing. He listened to your nightmares and screams, but he had the opportunity to prevent it all. He was the one who found your parents. He could have spared them, but he preferred cleaning everything up."

The memory of all the nights Hermione had screamed herself awake and cried in his arms despite her ongoing therapy sessions still haunted him. Gellert had wished each and every time that he could shoulder her pain and fear for her.

Gellert slumped. He couldn't defend himself. He had chosen not to tell Hermione – for her own safety, and for his selfishness. He had just supposed to befriend her, protect her if necessary. He hadn't expected to grow fond of and like her as much as he had over the past three years.

He was never supposed to really care about her, but she was his world now.

"He's lying, isn't he, Gellert? You weren't there. The first time you heard of all of it was when I told you."

Gellert could hear the tears and disbelief in Hermione's voice and had to fight his own tears. This was exactly what he had feared would happen every time the truth had been on the tip of his tongue. He convinced himself to tell her for days, then chickened out when he saw her smile.

"Gellert! Gellert! Tell me he's lying! You don't know any of these people! Gellert!"

Gellert continued looking away as Hermione pleaded with him.

Suddenly, Hermione's arms engulfed him in a hug as she continued to demand he confirm Walden's words to be the lies they both wanted them to be. Gellert's heart clenched. The Lestrange brothers released him, and he wrapped his arms around Hermione.

He wished he could turn back time and change things.

His tears immediately wet Hermione's shirt, and his shirt received a similarly wet spot from Hermione.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Gellert repeated, desperately wishing he had made different choices, and wondering if those choices would have somehow led him to Hermione anyway. Even if they hadn't, at least Hermione wouldn't have had to suffer all these years.

He felt Hermione stiffen in his arms. He convinced himself to release her.

Gellert's chest grew heavy at the pain and accusation in Hermione's eyes as she slowly stepped away from him. He didn't want to lose her, but they were already long past that point.

"You knew all along? Did it make you happy, then, to see me scream with nightmares and be unable to sleep for the rest of the night? You must have found it funny when I told you about my nightmares and why I had to go to therapy so often, right?" Hermione laughed bitterly, and Gellert's chest ached. "I hate you. I hate you, Gellert."

But I love you, Hermione.

Gellert didn't dare whisper it, even under Walden's cackling laughter as Hermione ran out of the building. He didn't follow her – there was no doubt the only way he could leave alive today was through some agreement.

He also knew there was no way they could ever meet or speak again. There was no way he could protect her now by standing by her side.

"Leave her alone. No one will touch her," Gellert said roughly as he heard Hermione's footsteps disappear into silence.

"You know what you have to do to ensure that," Walden said, grinning viciously.

Gellert closed his eyes, fists clenched, and nodded.


Written for: [1029 words]

Hogwarts Assignment: Veterinary Sciences: Task #7: Insects & Spiders - write about the past coming back to haunt someone.

Would you rather: Break up your OTP OR write a happy ending for your NOTP?